In the spotlight

 

EU warns Elon Musk to strengthen Twitter safety controls

 

deutschewelle-en, 01.12.2022

 

The EU's commissioner for digital policy, Thierry Breton, has warned Twitter owner Elon Musk that the company must work hard to comply with new social media laws. Musk, who bought Twitter in October , has expressed an interest in scrapping the platform's own rules aimed at combatting misinformation.

 

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TikTok used to promote Russian mercenary group Wagner

 

LeMonde-en, 01.12.2022

 

Threatening words in Russian and the image of a large metal sledgehammer held by an executioner: On TikTok, dozens of hate videos of this type are circulating widely, promoting the Wagner Group, a Russian militia present on the Ukrainian front and controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Vladimir Putin.

 

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https://twitter.com/TheEconomist/status/1598523951830933506

 

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1598169459940012032

 

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Digital transition

 

 

China fights lockdown protests by targeting smartphones

 

deutschewelle-en, 01.12.2022

 

Beijing's vast surveillance apparatus is being used to track and intimidate protesters. Several people told DW they suspect their phones were hacked.

 

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EU hit by cyber attack from pro-Kremlin’s group Killnet

 

MaltaToday, 23.11.2022

 

The European Union suffers a cyber attack by a pro-Kremlin group after MEPs voted to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

 

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https://twitter.com/TheEconomist/status/1598382184884305938

 

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Environmental sustainability

 

 

Nature positive and 30x30 – just soundbites or the foundations of a Cop15 deal?

 

guardian, 01.12.2022

 

As participants arrive in Montreal to negotiate this decade’s targets for protecting biodiversity, two themes are getting the lion’s share of attention.

 

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https://twitter.com/CarbonBrief/status/1598270187534524419

 

https://twitter.com/WHO_Europe/status/1598257620153995266

 

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Mobility & Energy

 

 

Why is energy efficiency being ignored?

 

forbes, 02.12.2022

 

Kim Fausing, chief executive of Danish multinational Danfoss argues that the problem lies in a lack of understanding, which leads to a lack of demand. Europe still has 500 million radiators without a thermostat – adding them could have an immediate impact.

 

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New energy storage facilities in high demand

 

deutschewelle-en, 30.11.2022

 

Wind and solar farms do not generate enough electricity at all times and in all weather conditions. Germany's energy transition hinges on the storage of power from renewables — and batteries come to the rescue.

 

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https://twitter.com/euronews/status/1598278235493580801

 

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Science policy & Communication

 

 

European Commission supports establishment of Bulgarian-Romanian hub to combat disinformation

 

BulgariaTelegraph-en, 01.12.2022

 

The European Commission said Thursday it is providing EUR 8 million for the establishment of six new anti-disinformation hubs that will become part of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), the independent platform for fact-checkers, academic researchers and other relevant stakeholders contributing to addressing disinformation in Europe.

 

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#ClimateScam: denialism claims flooding Twitter have scientists worried

 

guardian, 02.12.2022

 

Twitter has proved a cherished forum for climate scientists to share research, as well as for activists seeking to rally action to halt oil pipelines or decry politicians’ failure to cut pollution. But many are now fleeing Twitter due to a surge in climate misinformation, spam and even threats that have upended their relationship with the platform.

 

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https://twitter.com/risj_oxford/status/1598218116403990529

 

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Agriculture & Food

 

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/eu_eeas/status/1598210293993193472

 

https://twitter.com/LIFEprogramme/status/1597550007020056583

 

https://twitter.com/UNEP/status/1597908395071344640

 

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Health

 

 

Alzheimer's lecanemab drug slows down disease after clinical trial

 

oxfordtimes, 30.11.2022

 

A new drug that has been shown to slow down the destruction of the brain in Alzheimer's patients has been marked as a historical breakthrough.

 

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What is the 50,000 year old ‘Zombie Virus’ uncovered in Siberia?

 

standard, 29.11.2022

 

There are now a number of "zombie viruses" that have been revealed from the Siberian permafrost.

 

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https://twitter.com/WHO_Europe/status/1598271714114379776

 

https://twitter.com/TheEconomist/status/1598264804162109441

 

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EU initiatives

 

European Parliament launches permanent forum on academic freedom

 

sciencebusiness, 29.11.2022

 

Forum is to highlight the extent of the threat by conducting an annual analysis of the limitations put on academics and scientists, and will debate new policies and laws aimed at safeguarding academic freedom in the EU.

 

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https://twitter.com/EU_CoR/status/1598256487532441605

 

https://twitter.com/SKyriakidesEU/status/1597931583171796992

 

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Curious news

 

Inside the high-tech vault using robots to keep rare trading cards safe

 

zdnet, 02.12.2022

 

Forget the shoebox – for collectors with precious cards, there are more innovative ways of keeping them safe.

 

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https://twitter.com/Cambridge_Uni/status/1598275211148906499

 

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